We’ve netted quite a selection of songs today, don’t you think?
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[5.50]
Scott Mildenhall: Of the many good World Cup songs that have popped up across the globe — Negramaro’s theatrical take on an Italian standard, Ante Cash’s full-throated, cross-Balkan accord and accordion, Solidstar’s carefree confidence in Nigeria — this may be the best. The explicit nationalism is non-threatening (props to Michael Kwame Gbordzoe, lyricist of the Ghanaian national anthem Wiyaala has adapted for that, though would replacing “Ghana” for “England” change things?) and the focus is on forward movement. It’s proud but inclusive; hugely positive, mostly chorus and extremely catchy.
[8]
Iain Mew: During my time watching football, the most successful football song in England spent a fair amount of its time being about hurt and fear. The most successful of England’s batch this year is a guy who has cynically SEO-ed his blackface and yellowface into the charts. We don’t usually get to hear World Cup songs from elsewhere. That’s the context in which it is so refreshing and delightful to hear a song which is both somewhat specific and very celebratory. Its appeal extends from the fact that it sounds really good, too. Wiyaala pulls off the turn from hymnal to rousing with style, and the song works up to high rhythmic energy while keeping a silky fluidity that any midfield would be proud of.
[7]
Alfred Soto: At its rousing best it evokes Shakira. At its frequent worst it evokes North Korean parades.
[3]
Patrick St. Michel: Now this is how you do a World Cup song — proud, encouraging, no drippy messages beyond “let’s go win some games.” Forget the FIFA-approved message of bringing the world together… nope, it’s one of the few times where one can embrace nationalism without getting weird looks, and “Go Go Black Stars…Goal!” understands this and is very clear in waving the Ghanaian flag. It’s also why I don’t feel bad docking this one point because I woke up at 4:30 AM four years ago to watch them knock America out of South Africa.
[6]
Mallory O’Donnell: Not for the first time, not for the last time, I wish Afrovision was a thing. This would be Ghana’s “I Love Moldova,” with enough silly nationalism and silky melodicism to soften the hardened hearts of viewers and juries alike.
[6]
Thomas Inskeep: “Stand up, it’s time to show the world what we’ve got,” etc. Like the worst soccer songs, this is basically just empty “up with people” platitudes. Awfully fast-tempoed for a soccer chant, though.
[4]
Will Adams: In contrast to the ridiculous “We Are the World” efforts of other countries, Wiyaala offers a World Cup song that is just that; it won’t serve much function outside the games, and that’s completely fine. It’s not only sensical, it’s economical, and the fun dance beat ups it a notch.
[6]
Brad Shoup: An anodyne combination of Diane Warren midlift and bad worship music. Plus that blasted percussion. Once in a while, a Brazilian drummer has been known to use brushes.
[4]